| A-B | C-F | G-I | J-K | L | M | N-Q | R | S | T | U-Z |
a) NAME:
Rattenbury, Peter
b) CONTACT:
- peter_rattenburyBOASuowDOTeduDOTau
- [ i live 80 kilometres south of Sydney ]
c) KAYAKS OWNED OR PADDLED:
Klepper expedition single. I like the 'rag'n'sticks' approach to the sport
and the flexibility the Klepper gives me to go on journeys which have of
necessity involved trains and planes. my kayak is named 'Tainui' in honour
of my maori ancestors on my father's side who paddled and sailed great canoes
over vast distances in the first millenium after Christ, navigating by the
stars, and who peopled my home country, Aotearoa-New-Zealand. Tainui was one
of those emigration canoes.
d) SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Sailing [ my Klepper ], crewing on a friend's cruising yacht; bushwalking
[ Australia ], tramping [New Zealand], rambling [United Kingdom], hiking
[United States] I am New Zealand born and raised, and spent most of my
50+ years in living and working in the afore-mentioned countries.
e) SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE:
I guess I have learned a few useful tricks enjoying various outdoor
activities in a number of different countries there is but one constant
however, and that is, respect nature in all her moods for she is neither for
you, or against you!
f) STRONG OPINIONS:
See above about respecting nature!
g) GRATUITOUS DETAIL:
54 years, married to a non-kayaker [ for balance!], one son at university.
now working 'semi-retired' at a university bookshop after a career in daily
newspaper and television journalism.
Melissa Reese (41 and getting younger)
- melissaBOASbonnyweeboatyDOTnet
- bonnyweeboatyBOASyahooDOTcom
Hi there!
I live in Ocean Shores, WA (USA). My kayak has been telling me that we may have to move to Alaska soon. After having lived in progressively larger cities - Seattle, LA, NYC - and spending much of my time in noisy places, on airplanes and in hotel rooms (I'm a musician), I needed a break. Five years ago my father, who was in Seattle, became ill, so I went back to spend some time with him. It was in the summer, so I found myself riding my bicycle all around Seattle, and admiring all these lovely little boats on the water.
One day, after consuming a bit more than my quota of bus exhaust, I decided to rent one of these bonny wee boaties. For the next hour, I dreamt of wild ocean coastlines, marine wildlife of every sort, of ocean waves, quiet rivers and marshes, and of course, of qajaq. I came back to the dock after that hour and announced that I had discovered a passion that would occupy many of the hours in the rest of my life. I wasn't kidding :-)
The next day, I bought a season's pass, and started showing up every day at 9am. I would usually return the boat just before closing. I got my money's worth in about three days, but that didn't stop me (the guilt-free feeling of an addict). The owners of the place quickly figured out that it would be more cost efficient to pay me, so they hired me for the summer. This was wonderful for me, as I learned so much from the more experienced paddlers (the owners, who are now great friends of mine), and by introducing others to to this lovely experience - and I also had keys to the shop with 24/7 access to boaties. Lots of late night paddling too! By the end of that summer, I bought my CD Caribou (Bonny Wee Boaty). Three months later, I gave up my NYC lease, and moved to the outer coast of Washington.
I paddle with eight resident Gray Whales just about every day, year 'round (we're quite good friends now). I paddle up and down the coast, the local coastal rivers, and of course, I love to paddle in the ocean surf. I've paddled with Orcas in the San Juan and Gulf Islands. That first hour's dream expanded into a life.
What do I do other than paddling? I'm a Baroque 'cellist (currently taking an extended break from performing and teaching). As hobbies, I play the lute, guitar, and harpsichord. I'm an avid amateur chess player, and I play a good bit of it over the Internet, both live and correspondence (anyone for a game?). I still ride my bicycle (fewer buses here than in NYC and Seattle), and I love anything having to do with ocean and mountains. I love sailboats as well, and intend to deal with that in the near future.
When I resume my performing (with my own not-for-profit Baroque ensemble), I'll be sure to have a Feathercraft Khatsalano as my constant traveling companion (lots of water in this world!).
That's enough (or too much) for now, it's time to go paddling!
Melissa
NAME
Capt. Reid, Donald R. - retired (almost)
1. Tour operator for Latin America, specializing in planned adventure, ecological, and cultural tours. Located in Natal, RN, Brazil.
2. Advisor / consultant to F.A.O. (United Nations), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB - BID in Latin America), Catholic Relief Service(CRS), Brazilian government (CDI&T/RN, IBAMA) Primitive boat building specialist.
3.> Project Organizer - working on a project to introduce 'kayaking' as a viable sport, tour opportunity, and a means of employment for artisanal boat builders in northeast Brazil.
( http://www.andetur.com/Brazil/Projects/sea_kayak.htm )
Capt. Donald R. Reid - Master Oceans not more than 1,600 Tons
Representative - Merchant Vessel Personnel Advisory Committee(MERPAC) STCW work group (U.S. Coast Guard Advisory Panel), as a representative of licensed Masters above 500 Gross Tons. Gulf Coast Mariners Association. Master Marine Surveyor - U.S. Surveyors Association - Professional Mariners Association. USA E~mail: ( mailto:dreid9BOASearthlinkDOTnet) - PERSONAL MAILBOX
a) NAME:
Reiter, Nick
b) CONTACT:
- nick@fodderty.u-net.com
- I live in Lochcarron, a village on a sea loch in the North West Highlands of Scotland (opposite the Isle of Skye).
e) SPECIAL INTERESTS:
sea kayaking, sailing, cycling, hillwalking
f) SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE:
does malt whisky count?
g) STRONG OPINIONS:
... are often a Bad Idea
h) MOST INTERESTING KAYAK TRIP:
That's tough to answer. I have had multi-day trips along the West Coast of Scotland, wild camping, in perfect weather and in fine company - it's impossible to say which was the best. Often I have been within a paddle's length of otters playing in the water and totally ignoring me (hence my slightly sentimental habit of naming my kayaks - see above). But perhaps the most memorable moment - so far - was when a group of five of us were joined by a pod of 15 bottlenose dolphins, who swam up to us and then proceeded to dive under and jump over our kayaks for nearly half an hour. I will carry that joy to my grave.
i) PERSONAL INFO.
I'll be 50 in December 2002 (that was my excuse for buying the Featehrcraft K-1). I am the Director of the Deer Commission for Scotland, the agency with responsibility for the conservation, control and sustainable management of wild deer in Scotland. I've a (non-paddling) wife and two kids age 10 and 8, both of whom are just beginning to learn to paddle. I live in a staggeringly beautiful part of Scotland, and while I also walk the mountains, sail and cycle, kayak paddling has given me my most memorable experiences of the Highland wilderness.
a) NAME:
Ricci, Gail & Robert, AKA the Ricci twins because we often wear
matching outfits (it's his idea!)
b) Email address
gricciBOASidaDOTorg
c) KAYAKS (Owned or Paddled)
Yum-Yum Yellow & Black Feathercraft Klondike (Tandem)
d) Boat name and serial number if maritime radio operator
Team Titanic (again his idea!)
e) SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Besides kayaking, we enjoy biking, rollerblading, hiking, downhill skiing
and our pets (dog and cat). Might take up snowshoeing this winter.
f) SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE:
Good places to eat where we live and travel.
g) STRONG OPINIONS:
Keep an open mind. Also, be kind to animals -- you might be one in your
next life.
h) MOST INTERESTING KAYAK TRIP:
Virginia Beach - kayaked in the Atlantic Ocean with the dolphins. Also,
anytime we go out with our 60lb black Lab. Getting her to stay in the kayak
is challenge. She doesn't really enjoy the ride, but loves the swim breaks.
i) Short BIO (personal description)
Live and work in Northern Virginia. Bob (54) is an Express Mail clerk for
the USPS; Gail (46) is a Computer Programmer/Analyst for a defense contractor.
Bob will be eligible to retire in Y2K. When he does, we plan to sell our house, buy an RV and travel around the country for a year or two, depending on what kind of work we can find while on the road. We bought our foldable kayak with this plan in mind.
a) NAME:
Ridlon, Bill
b) EMAIL:
outdoorsBOASbiddefordDOTcom
Ok, ok, I'll add my name to the list...
I started kayaking in 1992 with an Eddyline Raven and still have it. I know there are better boats to be had but the Raven still has some years left in it. I live in Portland, Maine on the edge of Casco Bay. For those not familiar with Maine, the coastline measures about two to three hundred miles unless you measure all of the indents, bays, and cuts. Then the distance grows to over 2,000 miles long. In Casco Bay alone there are over 300 islands. A coastline like that, and the Maine Island Trail, make it difficult not to start kayaking. I started my outdoor life hiking and backpacking. In my 20s I spent 6 years in Virginia and started sailing a catamaran in Chesapeake Bay. The catamaran sits in my mother's barn with 2 flat tires on the trailer. I haven't taken it out in about 15 years. The Raven, on the other hand, has been joined by a Sea Lion for my daughter and a Solstice for my SO.
Unlike many on the list (as far as I can tell), I don't paddle for the joy of paddling. I paddle to be out amongst and on the ocean islands. I seldom take day trips. Most of my paddles are 2 or more days so as to enjoy the experience of staying on a remote island, listening to the sea, and having a "dining room" with a tremendous view and spectacular atmosphere.
Similar to many on the list, I recently hit 50 (last year) but I like to think that I'm redefining what a 50-year old is like. None of this business with sitting and watching TV each night and gradually slipping into poor fitness and poor health. My weeknights include 2 hours at the gym with weights and aerobic equipment. My weekends often include winter climbing, snowshoeing, skiing, hiking, backpacking, or kayaking. I often wonder how my fellow list members fit in work, sleeping, kayaking, and as much responding to posts as you all do.
I joined Wavelength several years ago shortly after it started and then joined Paddlewise a few months after Jackie saw the need for a better paddling forum. It's been quite a ride.
a) NAME:
- Robinson, Rob
b) Email address
- robkayakBOASyahooDOTcom
c) KAYAKS (Owned or Paddled)
-
Romany Explorer, Mariner II, Mariner Coaster, Mariner Max, Necky Tesla,
Klepper Aerius ll, Prijon T-Canyon
d) Boat name and serial number if maritime radio operator
- Salty Dawg,
KA7UCN
e) SPECIAL INTERESTS:
- Boating in general, kayaking in particular;
snowshoeing, x-country skiing.
f) SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE:
- Mainframe computing, antique clock repair,
celestial navigation (much out of practise)
g) STRONG OPINIONS:
I've outlived most of these.
h) MOST INTERESTING KAYAK TRIP:
- Launching at Neah Bay, paddling to Tatoosh
Island, around Cape Flattery then surf landing on Hobuck Beach is still hard
to beat as my best day trip.
FEBRUARY's "Who We Are" ENTRIES
My name is Rob Robinson. I'm 58, Retired, male, am 6'0" - weigh 225, and
have been paddling sea kayaks since 1994. I have paddled canoes, up to
class 2 rivers, for much longer. I am married, live in the Seattle area and
belong to both the Washington Kayak Club, and BEWET which is a club for
Boeing employees and retirees. I lead salt water trips and instruct for both
clubs. I average paddling at least one day a week all year around, and go on
several multiple week paddles each year - my wife is very understanding.
Last year it was Nootka and Desolation Sounds, and the South Brooks on
Vancouver’s West Coast. This year I hope to paddle in the Queen Charlottes
and Glacier Bay. I play in easy surf (3-6 foot) and do at least one trip a
year to Deception Pass to play in the currents, 5-7 kts. I occasionally
lead these trips (class 4 - 5) and finally have a fairly reliable roll. I’
ve made a lot of technical progress and friends since joining this group
three years ago!
a) NAME:
Rob
b) CONTACT:
Qajaq303BOASaolDOTcom
Hello all,
I'm 40 now, not young anymore, not old yet. Retired from a 20 year career teaching part time adult Ed. Still have my day job. I've paddled most of my life. My first boat was a canvas Old Town Canoe my Dad bought for $10 from behind a guys garage. It took me and my brother most of a summer to make it float again. I have pretty much always owned some sort of boat since. Currently I own a few:-) My main tripping kayak is a Valley Aquila, my main tripping canoe is a Kevlar Encounter.
I went from canoeing central Iowa streams to white water kayaking for a few years where I learned most of my kayaking survival skills, then settled into long boats about 8-9 years ago.
Mostly I paddle Lake Superior with an occasional trip to salt water, and I still paddle a lot of Iowa water.
I still love to canoe of course, mostly up north.
I consider myself a decent paddler with good skills.
I also think I've learned a lot from the discussions on this list.
Rob
a) NAME:
Romeu, Gabriel L
b) CONTACT: gr(at)studiofurniture(DOT)com
- http://studiofurniture.com" - the furniture
- http://studiofurniture.com/diary - a daily photo journal since May 1998
- http://www.studiofurniture.com/diary/kayak/ - kayak outfitting pages
- http://studiofurniture.com/paint - paintings, prints, photographs
d) BOAT NAME:
Depends on how cooperative it is with the circumstances I am in.
e) SPECIAL INTERESTS:
making stuff (process/tools-machinery), hiking (only in
urban areas armed with a rangefinder camera), reading(usually critical,
historical or technical, rarely narrative), aesthetics /design, music. Used
to skate a lot and enjoyed that immensely- moving to the country made it
inconvenient. Obviously kayaking- maybe as much with the diversity of skills
it has encouraged learning as the beauty of the equipment.
f) SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE:
metal working, painting, print making, photography,
electronic imaging, wood working, graphic communication
g) STRONG OPINIONS:
'Artist' is bandied about as a positive descriptive term for
someone who either does/makes anything very beautiful or skillfully. Art, in
the 20th century, has very little to do with beauty or craftsmanship. A very
poor use of the term 'artist'.
Strong opinions are slippery at best.
h) MOST INTERESTING TRIP:
Does this include the 60's?
i) BIO:
middle-aged and act it- I was way too naive, goofy and reckless as a kid
to repeat it now. married to a person who obviously has pretty poor taste
and great patience- guess I'm just a lucky guy. I design and make furniture
for a living, make other stuff in between (CLC Northbay this winter). I
maintain a daily journal of photographs on the web which is an extension of
the street and event photography I have been doing since the early 70's.
Don't photograph from the kayak generally, feel it is an inadequate medium in
expressing the experience.
a) NAME:
Russell, Jody
b) CONTACT:
- jrussellBOASpclinkDOTcom
- Located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota
e) SPECIAL INTERESTS:
kayaking, bicycling, camping, and love to bake (go figure)
f) SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE:
Have my own web site design business
g) STRONG OPINIONS:
h) MOST INTERESTING KAYAK TRIP:
A trip last summer to Voyageur's National Park where a full moon, wonderful
far away thunderstorms and great company complemented the great kayaking.
Personal info:
42 year old divorced mother of two (that sounds so pathetic. let me try again)
42 year old woman, unmarried, two great kids, and one cockateil.
a) NAME:
Russell, William J. (Russell)
b) CONTACT:
wjrussellBOASameritechDOTnet
this address might change in the near future
C) KAYAKS (Owned or paddled):
Have two skin Baidarkas (NOT replicas as
I've modified them somewhat from the original plan I had) I used to
have a double Klepper, but, when my wife stopped paddling, I found
it to be to much boat for me (I'm 5'8" and 150 lbs) so I sold
it.... sometimes I wish I still had it.
e) SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Special interest USED to be computers, quite naturally, since I was in
the business of repairing them for quite some time...since I've retired
(this past February) I've pretty much lost interest other than using
one to communicate on the net..my REAL interest now is kayaking and
skin boats..hope to build a Hooper Bay this winter..of course I said
this last winter as well and never did quite get roundtoit...to much
time traveling around the country.
f) SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE:
No special knowledge (other than LAAAGE computers and my expertise in
that area is quickly becoming obsolete)...no higher education to help
me understand all the engineers lingo, no special talents and no
special writing skills to match the prose and poetry I sometimes
read here...my main source of education is merely from living....which
is good enough for me for NOW
g) STRONG OPINIONS:
I have pretty strong feelings regarding such things as alcohol or drug
abuse, abortion politics, religion....NONE of which will I inflict
upon the PW readers...most other areas I'm pretty much open for discussion.
H) Most interesting trip:
The Nam, 1968...but that's another life...I guess my most interesting trip
(tiring and scary) was about two or three years ago in late October or early
November...I'd been kayaking for about two years at that time and still had the
double Klepper....I was camping on the southern shore (county camp ground) of
Lake Superior waiting for the weather to clear enough for me to circumnavigate
Grand island...I'd initially planned on a three day trip...first day to the
northern tip of the island, second day coming around the East side of the
island to about half way down and then back to my base camp area on the third
day....I'd been waiting for three days and every morning when I got up there
would be fog enough to not be able to see Grand island or either of the other
two islands on the west side of Grand...Williams island which was about 3 miles
from my camp and Wood island which was about 1.75 miles further...the day before
my "adventure" I'd paddled out to and around Williams island...I kept an eye on
the weather and it wasn't so bad...the fog would periodically clear then roll
back in and the waves picked up to two or three feet ( could just see over the
tops when I was in the trough)...I didn't worry cause I was in my trusty double
Klepper, after all people cross the Atlantic in these boats)..
I found the ONLY place to land on this island was at the dock of someone that owned the only house on the island(for all I know the house owner also, owned the island)..anyway I didn't stop, just paddled on back to my campsite...the following day, weather conditions were same as the previous day, so I decided to head out to Wood island...I figured about a 9 or 10 mile round trip...started out around 10:00 AM, just after the fog cleared (for the first time) today would be like the previous 3 or 4 days fog then clear, fog, the clear...by the time I reached Williams island the wind was right in my face...I have no idea how hard it was blowing, just that my job had gotton quite a bit harder...waves were coming right at me at about three feet again...I CONSIDERED going back but thought, Nah, I'm in my trusty Klepper, after all people cross the Atlantic in these boats...so onward and upward....By the time I reached Wood island I was starting to worry a little...my headway was VERY slow, I was REALLY working hard and the waves were now higher than my head...
as I started around the North end of the island I saw a LOT of water activity in one area and thought I'd better stand off from shore further than I'd intended.... it's a good thing I made that decision, cause I could see when I'd paddled on further that if I'd gone where I'd intended I'd have sunk my boat on rocks....
just about the same time I saw the rocky area the wind really hit me hard..it appeared to be coming from the NorthEast now and naturally I was coming around the East side of the island...the wind was so strong I was REALLY worried about getting dashed on the rocks of this island...up till now I hadn't seen ANYPLACE I could land on this dratted place...waves were now so high I had to look UP to see the tops....I'm no expert at judging the height of waves but I KNOW they were at least 25 feet high...welll, at least 6 or 7 feet high...
I was getting pretty tired by now fighting the wind and waves...now...what's this wierd feeling in the pit of my stomach...I haven't felt like this since I was on that troop ship in 1951..sea sick for crying out loud....onward and upward....FINALLY... I've gotten around Wood Island...decided to head for the West side of Williams Island...maybe I'll have some protection from the wind and waves over there....gasp, gasp, gasp..I've made it to the home owners dock...I was so tired and sick that I could barely get out of the boat....I just ROLLED out of the boat onto the dock and layed there...I couldn't move....what's this.. ..there's no wind now and the waves are WAAAY down, sun's coming out...boy, did it feel good to just lay there.....after about 30 minutes I'd gotten my wind back and didn't feel funny in the stomach anymore....finally I made myself get up and paddle that last three miles to my campsite....figured I'd better get that last leg out of the way before the waves and wind picked up again....this part wasn't to bad...waves were only two feet or so....I couldn't believe it.... including my 30 minute stop to rest, I'd been on the water for almost 8 hours of CONSTANT paddling...you can bet your bottom dollar I slept well that night...I'm glad I experienced that trip but I was VERY happy to have it over.......needless to say I did NOT get to circumnavigate Grand island........I WAS ALONE ON THIS TRIP....which is the way I usually paddle
Personal:
I'm 65 this past February (DID I say that)...20 years in the military... 3 years
in England, 3 years in Japan and 1 year in that great tourist area, Viet Nam....
from Michigan originally and I've lived here, except for one two or three year
period, since 1971 when I retired from the military....Worked as a Field
Engineer for Data General (fancy title for a computer repair guy) for 20 years..
..retired from that company in February....I DO like retirement
William J. Russell
Grand Rapids, Michigan